Show rats now farmers bothersome enemy destroy thousands of baby chicks much feed and other property by 0 C of the U S biological survey wu service rats kilts rate ns as public enemy no I 1 on the farm at tills this season of tile the lear ear for they not only kill thousands of baby chicks bur also destroy feed and ami other property it Is a n common occur rence for rats to destroy as many as 25 to 50 haby chicks in a sin single gle raid and they hae bale been known to enter a brooder house and wipe out as high as ax chicks in one night Pou pondered dered red Is the best poison for fighting rats since it ir Is deadly to them but cc comparatively in para barm harmless less to domestic animals an aal humans the s quill should be mixed ft ath some bait such as canned salmon hamburger or a mixture of moistened rolled oats and corn one pa part rt of poison to parts bait by weight is the hie correct proportion the different balts baits should be put out in teaspoonful quantities so that the rats may enjoy their preference ten lien though gh red Is campara thuly harmless to domestic animals care should be taken to chickens or dogs from eating large quantities of the th poisoned bait calcium cyanide fumigant Is another rat exterminator which may be used successfully especially in burrows under concrete floors a aud u d other places where the gas can be confined it should be applied with a foot pump duster made especially for the purpose the operator should avoid breathing the poisonous fumes co citi operative community rat campaigns during which poison Is distributed tri buted all over the community at the same time are effective the cost of such activities is low compared to tb the damage done by the rats |